Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time Chapter 448

pandemonium

* * *

The King of the Palace wiped his forehead with the hem of his blue sleeve. The sweat that had been faintly glistening on his skin was wiped cleanly away.

“Because you are so desperate to live.”

Flutter.

He gave the hem of his clothes an exaggerated shake.

“I’d rather look down on the Yao tribe from the Northern Great Wall. That side is also quite terrifying… … .”

The King of Palace, who was using the King of the Four Dragons to wipe away the sweat, muttered briefly afterwards. He said that his temperament to raise thorns was comparable to that of the Dragon’s head.

The main gate of the imperial palace.

The warriors of the main castle who had seen off Jeong Yeon-shin were each dispersing to their respective positions. The sound of footsteps clattering powerfully overlapped in the shadow of the long castle wall.

Some of them were just staring blankly into the empty space where Jeongyeonshin had flown away. It was Ma Gwang-ik.

King Gungmyeong glanced at the Grand Commander of the Imperial Palace and the Lord of the Royal Household.

“Didn’t you say that you received teachings from the Lord? It seems that even the Lord of the Sword of Death in the world couldn’t suppress the Maga bloodline.”

“I am embarrassed.”

Im Jin-myeong bows his head slightly.

On the other hand, the senior lord, Shin Byeok, still stood still with a look of great shock on his face.

He had come to a great realization that there was absolutely no trustworthy purple in his nature.

“Master Shin, why are you so absentminded?”

When King Gungmyeong asked casually, Shinbyeok’s wrinkled lips tightened.

“…no.”

Because it’s a joke.

King Gungmyeong was the child that Ming Taizu had late in life. Although he was born at the end of his father’s reign, he was far from the age at which he could be called a nobleman.

But the divine wall could not point it out.

The Zhou family.

Countless people died on the northern front, and the blood of long-lived clans is thickly mixed in.

Because they all possess high martial arts skills, it is difficult for them to engage in large-scale fratricide, and no one hesitates to go to the front lines in the north to protect their country and the world.

Naturally, emperors came from all generations. It was common for the lineage to go down to the great-grandson of Taejo, the granddaughter of the founder, and then up to the next son.

They all had a right of succession and a claim to the throne.

And now, the ministers are barely able to stop the emperor from personally confronting the northern rebels.

If something unpleasant happens to the crown prince and crown prince’s grandson, King Gungmyeong may take the throne.

As a new king, he had no choice but to be cautious in his actions in preparation for the future of Iphwangseong.

Swish.

He turned his heel slightly to indicate that he was leaving.

King Gungmyeong laughs as if he finds it funny.

“It doesn’t seem to be that. Come to think of it, wasn’t it Shin No-sa who strongly requested the dismissal of Yong Dan-ju and stole the spirits of the Beijing ministers?”

“It was the right thing to do.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to ask the new sword master someday. Which is more important to him, Mincho or Iphwangseong? Today, Jeongga Yeonsin and I were both right, but in the distant future, there will come a time when he will have to choose between the two.”

“majesty.”

“As there was a dangerous incident of the gathering of the chiefs of the Wonpyeong Ilgeomjang some time ago, the royal family needs to feel reassured about them… If even one satisfactory answer is not given… … .”

“… … .”

“I guess I could suggest a humanitarian measure. A wedding, I suppose.”

The wrinkles in Shinbyeok’s eyes became deeper. This is a separate matter from his changing perspective on Jeongyeonshin.

Now, the purple absolute ruler who will lead the imperial family must not be caught up in the palace struggle.

You are very dirty. It is not your body that is being hurt, but your honor.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”

The old man’s voice became firm for the first time.

King Gungmyeong shrugged his shoulders as if he had never aged. As was the case with most of the Zhou royal family, even his demeanor was youthful.

“Among those who are shaking off the unknown in the north, there is my great-grandson. The Emperor is in love with her, so she may one day be adopted and made a princess. Lord Shin must have heard of her too. That is why her nickname is… … .”

King Gungmyeong shut his mouth without continuing to speak.

He turned his body towards the main gate of the inner palace.

“… A very powerful corpse is approaching. He is the one who carved his image into the world with the shape of a sword. Even if he is unconscious, he is still this strong… Does the Grand General feel it too?”

Im Jin-myeong, who was brushing his beard between the two old men, paused for a moment and then nodded.

“Yes, it seems like they are the group of Murim Alliance that Your Majesty mentioned.”

“Is this really the Black Swordsman Hyeon So-baek? I must definitely examine the methods of the Taemosan Fortress and then give the detailed information to the new Purple. Hey, Grand General, is there a master who can be used as a messenger right now?”

The King of Palace asked with a serious expression.

“Since the purple one has left, we can’t even send out the black one… but there are about four people in the Shingumdan Magwangik who wouldn’t be strange if they went black at any time.”

“I have a rough idea of their identities. Of those, I guess we should exclude Baek Mi-ryeo and Il-ryeon-geom-mae. Then, Cheong-an-ma-geom, Tae-yeon-ryong… Who else is there?”

“He is a swordsman who will one day represent the true nature of the people. His nickname is Iphwangdaehyeop. As the name suggests, he has the will of a god embedded in his body, and his martial arts skills are also special… … .”

“Are you talking about the Snow Sword?”

“… … .”

“I pay more attention to the imperial palace than you think. Anyway, the new purple ones are very lucky. I think they can safely deliver a letter.”

The King of the Palace nodded once, and as soon as the sunset light overlapped the distant castle walls, he was sucked into them and disappeared.

It only seemed that way because my nerves were so fast.

The group of Moorim Alliance members, including Zhuge Qing’er and Gongsun Min, had to receive a visit from the feudal king before they could even recover from their travel poison.

* * *

The wide, open passage was teeming with people.

A road that stretches so long that even an untrained eye would have a hard time guessing where it leads.

At the end of it all is a great city that is said to be one of the most enjoyable places in the entire Ming Empire.

Hangzhou.

It is famous for the saying, “There is a paradise above, and Su Hang below.”

A land that is literally likened to heaven. A paradise for many tycoons, poets and scholars, famous iron men, handsome men and beautiful women, and hermits.

As famine worsens, people tend to move to more prosperous lands, and in the case of Hangzhou, this trend was even more severe.

Not only is there an abundance of food, it is also famous for its delicacies.

Regardless of what happened to those who actually arrived in Hangzhou, at least the faces of those who were on the verge of entering heaven at this moment were bright.

Among them, a young comedian was holding up a book and shouting loudly.

“This is not an opportunity that comes every day! The Great Wall South Jianghu People’s List (長城以南 江湖人名錄)! It even lists the rankings of the country’s martial artists! There is no discussion as interesting as this in the entire world! It will be perfect for killing time while waiting for the inspection, so please just ask one question at a time!”

Fortunately, the response came back immediately.

A man crouching in the shade of a tree raised his hand.

“Before I pay you, I want to know how plausible the story is. Who’s in the first line?”

The joker flinched as soon as he turned his gaze toward him. It was because of the man’s crouching appearance, holding a sword in his arms.

‘I guess I’m out of luck… … .’

A figure wearing a dark blue giant cloak loosely draped over his body.

But that kind of attire meant nothing.

His eyes, slightly downcast, had a white cast to them, and his eyes were out of focus, making him look like a blind person.

The hat placed next to him was probably something he wore to hide his appearance.

A world rife with superstition.

The joker thought. If only he hadn’t been holding a knife, he would have spat and turned away.

But even a blind sword must be careful in these troubled times.

The joker had no choice but to open his mouth.

“Of course, the Emperor is in the first row.”

“Do people who travel through rough roads not know the ways of the world? No matter how much interest you may have, no one will pay to hear honest words. What about the second line?”

“… Isn’t this the best Emperor of Heaven?”

“You just said that the Emperor is the best?”

“… … .”

“I’ll speak cautiously, even with my limited knowledge. I know that the people mentioned above have never crossed swords with the northern warriors. After all, protecting your health is the most important thing.”

The blind man spoke his rude words without any concern. The jokester looked around helplessly and took a step back.

“It was said to be a register of people from Jangseong-nam. The person who committed suicide was from the north.”

“What about the third time?”

“The head monk of Buksung Shaolin and the chief monk of Namjon Mudang are standing side by side… … .”

“This is complete nonsense! Of course, the new sword master Yong Hee-myeong should come out! Or the Muryonghoe master who recently perfected the world’s best martial arts, or the sword master who is gaining great power, would be good too. I heard that no one has been able to take down the sword master’s sword recently.”

“I heard that you are also a talented person. Is it okay for you to be so morally unethical and give advice like this?”

“A peddler? I’m just a peddler trying to make a killing in Hangzhou.”

“Don’t act like a fool. How could a mere peddler know the current situation of people like the Muryonghoeju and the Paegeomjongju? From the looks of it, all he has is a sword and a hat… With his appearance and knowledge that seem to have come from a sword-fighting field, isn’t he trying to make a living in Hangzhou? Anyone would accept the story of the executioner as plausible. Of course, it’s not as good as this list of martial artists compiled by some famous tycoons and lawmakers who racked their brains.”

The blind man smiled faintly at those words.

“If you make something like that and sell it, you’ll most likely die.”

“What?”

“That thing called the Ganghoinrok. It would be best to burn it quickly. All the Ganghoin authors have such high self-esteem that they don’t like to see their names listed below someone else. That’s why books about hierarchy and such are taboo.”

Which master is stronger?

A common debate among the wealthy.

But at this moment, they were the only ones talking. The rest of the pedestrians were already looking toward the back of the road.

The sight of azaleas blooming under the late summer sunlight slowly settling down.

“You are sharing an interesting story. So, which row are you in, the eldest member of the main branch?”

A refreshing breeze spread softly in all directions. It was because of several Taoist priests walking towards them, their purple robes fluttering.

Each one of them has an aura that can only be felt at the foot of a green mountain, and the once bustling Guando has been filled with a quiet atmosphere like a Taoist temple.

“Jinmu, what kind of rude question is that?”

“Aren’t you curious, Your Majesty? What kind of gaze do the nobles who walk to Hangzhou have on the rivers and lakes?”

“Your words and actions are still unbecoming of a Taoist. Your long period of closed-door training has become meaningless.”

“Well said. I have been stuck in the mountains because of my private tutoring, so I have not even been able to see the face of that Do-woo named Jeong Yeon-shin. I wonder if my peer who finally won against the Jang Moon-in of Jeomchang will be able to gain an advantage over the Jang Moon-in of the main faction, so I can’t sleep… .”

“Oh my! You’ve mastered both Cheongun and Jeokha at the same time, but you can’t tell the difference between heaven and earth! You idiot, isn’t the Jangmun Jinin standing right in front of you?”

Three people were walking.

A young man in a white robe with sharp ears like blades was in the lead.

A boy of about eighteen with thin cheeks and a middle-aged Taoist priest wearing a blue robe followed behind.

They all had old swords hanging from their waists, and the sight of the monks’ nephews leisurely bickering seemed somehow lonely.

At least that’s what it seemed to the passersby who were watching them.

“A Taoist priest of the famous clan… A swordsman of the double-walled clan?”

The jokester who had been soliciting customers earlier stutters.

Because the three people’s robes were unusual.

At the ends of their sleeves was a small, blue and red Taegeuk symbol engraved on them.

A pattern symbolizing blue clouds and red sunsets. There was only one sect in the world that could enter a large city like Hangzhou wearing such a uniform.

“Cheongseong… Cheongseongpa!”

“If it’s the Yangbyeokgeom Army, then the leader of the Cheongseongpa… … ?!”

The people who are making a fuss.

Some of them immediately stood up. They wanted to ask the living gods for advice.

at that time.

“Let’s listen from afar.”

The leader of the Cheongseongpa, Yangbyeokgeomgun Cheongsujinin, suddenly opened his mouth.

“The author’s words were full of lies. Only one thing was true.”

He is a noble man who has risen to the position of the head of the old clan. His eyes, which see through the truth, shine with a blue light.

Immediately afterwards, a look of defeat appeared in Cheongsujinin’s eyes.

– Cheong, take Jinmu and go first. You mustn’t look back. Go to Hangzhou like this and destroy Taemosanseongju’s Horongsulsik (呼龍術式) from the outside. Jinmu’s sword technique, which holds Cheongunjeokha in one hand, should be able to cut through the technique.

– Long story short…?

―I should have met Yulhanangrang first, but things have gone wrong. I don’t know where she is, but she must join the Hwasanpa. No, Shaolin and the Mudang are fine too. Take care of yourself.

Words that sound almost like a will.

The middle-aged Taoist priest, Cheong Eun, opened his eyes wide.

The blind man who had been crouching at the foot of the tree slowly stood up. He held his sword in one hand, and with the other he gathered his hat and placed it on his head.

Swish.

The wide brim covers the white-rimmed eyes.

“Did I tell you the truth? I know it may be presumptuous of me to say this, but I’ve been obsessed with sword transformation and illusion lately, so there’s no way I could have done that… … .”

“Didn’t they say that the one who holds the Ganghoinmyeongrok dies?”

“ah.”

The blind swordsman let out a gasp.

“I lacked training. Thank you for enlightening me.”

“Byeonjeon and Hwangeon. Do you practice the technique of telling lies with a sword and even your words and actions are like that?”

“When I was sharpening my sword, I sometimes acted like a traitor. Because of that, I lost all my close friends and my name was listed among the Thirteen Heavenly Masters, but I also gained corresponding achievements.”

“Heaven’s will… … .”

It was when Cheongsujinin was falling asleep.

“Excuse me! Which number is that guy and Wilderness Day?”

The extremely skinny boy, Jinmu, was being dragged away by his private tutor by the scruff of the neck when he stopped and asked. He seemed determined to satisfy his curiosity even if he had to go.

It was also a sign of possession by the devil resulting from excessive training.

“… … .”

For a moment, the surroundings became quiet.

The wilderness refers to an infinite distance whose end is difficult to fathom.

Ilmyeol means that etiquette and morals, like sunlight, are useless.

If you were to combine the qualities and character of the person who held the Volcanic Medicine Competition, it would be Gwangya Ilmyeol. It was a nickname that no one would be able to bring up in front of the person in question.

“That boy is truly a madman.”

Even though the blind man smiled faintly, Jinmu waited for the jokester’s answer.

Where is the location of the person presumed to be the First Sword of the Outer Way, Cheon Geuk Mun Ju, and Jeong Yeon Shin of Ip Hwang Seong? Several quick-witted passersby stepped back with astonishment, but kept their presence quiet.